Funniest Thatcher quotes from Rik Mayall’s character in ‘The Young Ones’

The Young Ones in their kitchen. Rik Mayall’s Rick is second from left, with the red tie. BBC/ Everett Collection

British actor and comedian Rik Mayall, who died Monday at age 56, made his leap into fame with his role acting and writing “The Young Ones.” For Americans of a certain age, the 1980s television show was an extreme and rather disgusting view of British youth culture that defied the gloss of popular international bands like Wham. It was gross, it was outrageous, but it was British and carried with it the mystique of punk and goth. So let’s paint our nails black and check it out!

With 30 years hindsight, the comedy is still gross and outrageous. But it’s funny, as well, for the skewering of the cultural archetypes — the idiotic punk Vyvyan, the out-of-sync hippie Neil, and Rick — the poetry-writing pseudo-anarchist quick to flaunt his liberal credentials. That, in fact, is one of the big jokes of the series: At a time when it had become trendy to paint Thatcher and Tory policies as penthouse occupants in the Dark Lord’s office tower, the show’s producers were making fun of the liberal anti-establishment establishment, so to speak.

Without further ado, here are some Rick’s best jabs and tirades against the Thatcher years:

“The Young Ones: Nasty” #2.3

Rick: Neil, the bathroom’s free. Unlike the country under the Thatcherite junta.

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